Self-locking box structure



May 8, 1956 c. J. WOESSNER SELF-LOCKING BOX STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1953 INVENTOR. CARL J WOLSSA/LR. BY

ATTORNEY May 8, 1956 c. J. WOESSNER 2,744,650

SELF-LOCKING BOX STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 17, 1955 pe la.

WM; HUM

a4 31 INVENTOR.

CARL .1 WOESSNER.

A TTORNE a:

United States Patent SELF-LOCKING BOX STRUCTURE Carl J.'Woessner, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Gibraltar Manufacturing Co., Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,753 4 Claims. (Cl. 2204) This invention relates generally to containers or boxes, and is particularly directed to boxes or cases of the type adapted to be automatically self-locking, and permit of easy opening.

Theiparticular embodiment of the present invention,

which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described. hereinafter in greater detail, comprises generally, apair of complementary sections, one of which includes loops and the other having lugs engageable in the loops when the sections are in closed relation. The construction is such that the lugs are releasably retained in the loops to hold the box in closed condition.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a box or case of the type described having simple and eincient means for automatically locking the box in closed by plastic molding or other desired method. Further, the complcmentary'sections of the box or. caseof the present.

inventionare adapted to be produced in the same mold with very slight modifications, to thereby effect substantial savings in mold costs.

' It is still another object of the present invention to" provide a box or case having the characteristics mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, which completely eliminates the need for hinge and lock hardware, as the locking means may be molded integrally with the box sections. i

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novelbox construction' of the type described which is light in weight, extremely'versatile in use, and which can be manufacturedand sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent'upon reading the followingspecification and referringto the accompanying drawings, which form a materialpartof ihlS.dlSC1OSUI6.

"Theinve'ntion accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in .the construction hereinafter described,- and of which the scope will be' indicatedby the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig.1 is a top plan view showing a box or case constructed'inaccordance with the present invention, the

latter being in closed condition. v

Fig. 2 is aside elevational viewshowing the device of Fig. 1. I v

Fig. 3 is a partial bottom plan view showing the inside of the box top section or"cover.

Fig. 4 isv a partial, top planviewshowing the inside of the box bottom section. N I r Fig. S fis'a fragmentary, sectionalfview showing the lockingmeans of the present inventiom- I 2,744,650 Patented May 8, 1956 Fig. ,6 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing one element of the locking means of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional view showing another element of the locking means of the present invention.

Fig.8 is a partial, sectional elevational view showing the box sections in closed position, just before opening.

Fig.9 is a' partial, sectionalv elevational view showing the box sections in open condition.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view showinga slightly modified form of locking means.

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevational view showing the latch means of Fig. 10 in closed condition.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing another operative position of the latch means.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary, sectional elevational view showing still another slightly modified form of latch means comprehended within the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to Figs. l-6, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprises a case or container, generally designated 20, having a bottom or lower section 21 and a top or upper section 22, which is complementary to the bottom -section. For purposes of illustration, complementary sections 21 and 22 are shown as rectangular in configuration. However, it is appreciated that shapes other than rectangular may be employed, as desired, in practising the present invention. The bottom section 21 includes a bottom wall 23, upstandingside walls 24, and end walls 25 on the'bottorn wall and extending between the side walls. Beads or lips 26 extend along the rim of the side and end walls 24 and 25, being omitted centrally of the end walls, as at 27 for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. Internally of the bottom section 21, on the end Walls 25'are formed ribs or tongues 28 which extend upwardly beyond the bead 26. It is preferred to form 'a single rib. or tongue on each of the end walls 25 adjacent to an opposite one of the side walls 24, so that a pair of ribs 28 are disposed diagonally with respect to each other. A bracket 29 is shown formed on the bottom wall 23. The bracket forms nopartof the present invention but merely illustrates how the case 26 may be adapted for various uses.

Centrally of each side wall 25, on the exterior face thereof, are formed thickened wall portions 30 centrally of the space 27 between the beads 26. On each of the thickened portions 363, offset laterally outwardly from the associated end wall 25, is formed an upstanding projection or lug 31. W Each of the lugs 31 has a substantially vertical inner face32 and its outer face is cut away to provide a downwardly facing shoulder 33. Above the shoulder 33,

g the outer side of each lug 3% is formed with an inwardly and upwardly inclined surface 34, all for a purpose which willpresently become fully apparent.

' The'upper case section 22 is similar to the lower case section and includes a top wall 35 having depending side walls 36 and depending end walls 37 extending between the side walls 36. Alongthe edge or rim of the side and end walls 36'and 37 are formed external beads 38 similar to the'beads'26 on the bottom section 21. The beads 38 are omitted centrally of the side walls 37, as at 39. On the internal face of each end wall 37 is formed a rib 40 which extends downwardly beyond the edge of the associated end wall-to provide a tongue. The ribs, or tongues 40 are each disposed adjacent to one of the side walls 36, so as to be in diagonal relation with respect to each other, as described hereinbefore in connection with the bottom section 21. a

On the exterior of the top wall 35, a handle 45 and handle retaining plate 46 may be secured as by rivets 47. Such a handle is preferably employed where portability is desired,

On the exterior surface of each side wall 37, in the space 39 intermediate the beads 38, are formed a pair of parallel spaced laterally outwardly extending webs or plates 48. Extending between each pair of webs 48, and spaced from the adjacent side wall portion, is a substantially rectangular member or bar 49, which combines with the webs and adjacent side wall portion to provide a laterally outwardly extending loop, generally designated 50.

When the complementary upper and lower sections 22 and 21 are in their closed condition, that is when the sections are in edge to edge facing relation, each of the lugs 31 will extend upwardly through one of the loops 50 and the downwardly facing lug shoulder 33 will engage over the upper surface of the bar 49 to retain the lugs in position with respect to the loops, and, consequently, to retain the box sections in closed condition. This relationship is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein it is seen that the shoulder 33 serves as a detent to lock the box sections in closed relation.

As it is preferred to fabricate both the upper and lower box sections 22 and 21 as an integral plastic unit, it will be apparent that the upstanding lugs 31 will be possessed of a certain degree of inherent resiliency. This resiliency permits inward deflection of lugs 31 as clearly shown in Fig. 8. There it will be seen that inward deflection of the lugs 31 in the direction of the angularly disposed arrows will shift the shoulders 33 clear of the cross members 49 so that the top section 22, including loops 50, may be raised upwardly in the direction of the vertical arrows. Conversely, when it is desired to close the box, the upper section is moved downwardly so that the inclined lug surfaces 34 engage with the cross members 49 and are deflected inwardly thereby. Upon continued downward movement of the upper section 22 and its loops 50, the lugs 31 will snap outwardly and the shoulders 33 will engage over the cross members 49 to lock the upper and lower sections in closed condition.

Thus, upon closing movement of the box sections, the latter will be automatically locked together. Further, the simple manual action of depressing the lugs 31 inwardly and simultaneously raising the bars 49 will effect opening of the box and separation of the upper and lower sections.

It will be noted that the complementary sections are substantially identical except in the central side wall regions. Thus, it is apparent that a single mold may be employed in manufacturing the box sections, it being only necessary to slightly modify the mold for the upper and lower sections. tongues 28 and 40 of the lower and upper box sections will each be disposed adjacent to one corner of the box and provide means for centering the sections upon closing, as well as to rigidity and strengthen the closed box structure.

In Figs. l0, l1 and 12 are shown a slightly modified form of the present invention wherein the upper casing section 22' has its end walls 37 each formed with an opening or cut-out portion 55 extending inwardly from the side Wall edge between the loop Webs 48. By this form of the invention, it will be seen from Figs. 11 and 12, that the loop 50 and lug 31 may serve as a hinge-like connection between the top and bottom casing sections. That is, it is possible to rotate the upper case section 22' about the loop cross member 49 while the latter is retained in engagement below the shoulder 33. This is so because the opening 55 will freely receive the lug 31 upon rotative movement of the upper case section 22 about the loop member 49, or, stated otherwise, the lug 31 may pass through the opening 55 upon rotative move ment of the lower case section 21 about the cross member 49 of the loop 50.

In Fig. 13 is shown another slightly modified form of the present invention wherein a limited degree of rotative movement is permitted between the upper case sec- Further, it will be seen that the tion 22" and the lower case section 25, and the openings are eliminated. Thus, the heretofore described hinge-like action may be employed while the upper and lower case sections provide a substantially air-tight, completely closed container. To effect this end, the portion of the end Wall 37" intermediate the loop webs 48 is recessed or offset inwardly as at 56. Thus, the upper case section 22 may be rotated about the loop member 49 until the lug 31 contacts the recessed portion 56, thereby providing a considerable degree of rotation. Further, the lugs 31 may be freely deflected inwardly by the thumb of the user, the recessed wall portion 56 providing increased operating space for the fingers.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention fully accomplishes its intended objects, and provides a container or box which is well adapted to meet practical conditions of use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A container comprising a pair of complementary substantially similar sections, each section having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending substantially at right angles from said bottom wall and terminating in a free smooth edge, said sections being in edge-to-edge contact to constitute a closed container, diagonally opposed tongues extending beyond the free edge of each section from the inside surface of the respective peripheral wall of each section, said tongues of one section, when the sections are in closed relation, being disposed in opposed relation to the tongues on the mating section, the tongues of one section extending into the other section to relatively align the sections, at least two laterally extending loops on one of said sections, at least two upstanding resiliently deflectable lugs on the other of said sections and insertable through said loops when said sections are in closed relation, means on said lugs for automatically effecting lateral deflection of the latter when said sections are arranged in closed relation, and detent means on said lugs and releasably engageable with said loops for holding said lugs in said loops.

2. A container according to claim 1, said lateral defiection means comprising an oblique surface on each of said lugs adapted to slidably engage the associated one of said loops when said sections are being arranged in closed relation to effect deflection of said lugs.

3. A container according to claim 1, said detent means comprising a shoulder on each of said lugs and engageable over the associated loop when said lugs are deflected and inserted through said loops, said lugs being manually depressible for releasing said shoulder from engagement with said lugs.

4. A container comprising a pair of complementary substantially similar sections, at least two laterally outwardly extending loops on one of said sections, at least two upstanding resiliently deflectable lugs on the other of said sections and insertable through said loops when said sections are in closed relation, and a shoulder on each of said lugs and engageable with the associated one of said loops for releasably retaining said lugs in said loops, said one section being cut away adjacent at least one of said loops, to receive the adjacent lug and facilitate swinging opening and closing movement of said other section with said one loop in engagement with said adjacent lug.

Weis Dec. 30, 1823 Card Sept. 21, 1909 

